Estonian Prime Minister Provides Explanation in Parliament Over Husband's "Russian Business"
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas participated in a session of the country's anti-corruption committee in connection with the scandal surrounding her husband's "Russian business." The exchange between Kallas and committee members, led by Mart Helme (a representative of EKRE, the key political opponents of Kaja Kallas), was charged with emotion, as reported by ERR.
Helme and Priit Sibul of the "Homeland" party questioned Kallas about the details of explanations provided by her husband Arvo Hallik regarding a loan he received from her. Kallas noted that information about the use of funds she provided to her husband's company, Novaria Consult, should be verified in the financial reports of the firm. The Prime Minister avoided answering questions about the timing of the loan, citing a desire to avoid potential accusations of falsehood in the future.
She also assured that she paid taxes on the interest received from the returned loan, and that she has not yet received back the 22,000 euros she lent to the company in 2023. Mart Helme criticized Kallas for her income over the last five years being less than the loan amount of 350,000 euros. In response, Kallas emphasized that before entering politics, she worked as a lawyer, and her income was significantly higher at that time.
Kallas reiterated her arguments that her husband's activities cannot be labeled as "Russian business."
"They ceased operations in Russia a month after the conflict began and then provided support to the majority shareholder. Can this be considered Russian business? If you have no Russian clients, you leave no euros, rubles, dollars, you buy and sell nothing there, then by what formula can this be Russian business?" Kallas asked.
She also emphasized that she learned about all these circumstances only after they were brought to her attention by the media. Committee members suggested that Kallas should again submit a declaration regarding the Novaria Consult loan and share an income declaration for the year 2010.
A colleague from Kallas's party, Valdo Randpere, a member of the "Reform Party," criticized the committee's actions in investigating the scandal. Both he and Kallas raised questions about the source of Mart Helme's income, his tenure as an ambassador in Russia, and his country house in Suur-Lahtru.
It's worth noting that the results of public polls indicate that the scandal has not yet impacted the ratings of the "Reform Party." However, the majority of citizens believe that Kaja Kallas should step down from her position.